Solar powered aircraft

Abstract

A cruciform wing structure for a solar powered aircraft is disclosed. Solar cells 28 are mounted on horizontal wing surfaces 20, 22. Wing surfaces 24, 26 with spanwise axis perpendicular to surfaces 20, 22 maintain these surfaces normal to the sun's rays by allowing aircraft to be flown in a controlled pattern at a large bank angle. The solar airplane may be of conventional design with respect to fuselage, propeller and tail, or may be constructed around a core 70 and driven by propeller mechanisms 75, 76, 77, and 78 attached near the tips of the airfoils.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is: 
     
       1. An aircraft comprising: airfoil means having surfaces normal to each other for sustaining free flight of the aircraft;   solar cells carried by at least one of said airfoil means surfaces for powering the flight of the aircraft;   control means for orienting said airfoil means normal to the path of the sun's rays; and   means for constantly maintaining said solar cells normal to the path of the sun's rays during an uninterrupted flight from at least sunrise to sunset.   
     
     
       2. An aircraft as in claim 1, wherein said means for maintaining said airfoil means normal to the path of the sun's rays includes first and second airfoil means, said second airfoil means having a spanwise axis normal to a spanwise axis of the first airfoil means. 
     
     
       3. An aircraft as in claim 2, wherein said first airfoil means has an upper surface and a lower surface, and wherein said solar cells are positioned on said upper surface. 
     
     
       4. An aircraft as in claim 3, having a fuselage, propeller mechanism mounted on the nose of said fuselage and a tail mounted on the aft end thereof, said first airfoil means and said second airfoil means being attached to said fuselage, said control means having components within said fuselage, said fuselage having a motor for driving said propeller, and said solar cells providing energy for operating said propeller and flying said aircraft. 
     
     
       5. An aircraft as in claim 3, wherein said first airfoil means and said second airfoil means have tips, and wherein said control means include propeller means located at said tips. 
     
     
       6. An aircraft as in claim 2, having bracing means fastened between said first airfoil means and said second airfoil means. 
     
     
       7. An aircraft as in claim 2, wherein said second airfoil means have ailerons. 
     
     
       8. An aircraft as in claim 6 wherein said bracing means are wires. 
     
     
       9. An aircraft as in claim 1 wherein energy storage means is carried by said aircraft, and said solar cells operate to charge said energy storage means. 
     
     
       10. An aircraft as in claim 6 wherein said second airfoil means has ailerons located in the area of the tips thereof.